Drifting mine.



C. T. NHNKLER.

DRIFTING MINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEYET l.

@MCTC/W.

Ptented Eeb.1s,1919.

C. T. MINKLER.

DRIFTING MINE.

, APPLICATION F'ILED SEPT. 29, 1917. 1,295,051 Patentedeb. 18, 1919.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CHESTER T. MINKLER, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR 'ro THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

DRIFTING MINE.

Specification of Letters Patenti Patented Feb. 1s, 1.919.

Application filed September 29. 1917. Serial N o. 194.075.

To all 'LU/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER T. MINKLER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drifting Mines, ofl which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to submarme mines, and in its more intense aspect to mines of the drifting type, adapted to be suspended from floats on the surface of the Water and exploded by contact, although by changing the buoyancy they may be used for set mines if desired. i

As is well known, drifting mines of this general character form a valuable weapon in special instances of battle tactics as when launched from fast destroyers for the purpose of causing the enemy battle line to turn and subject itself vto tactical disadvantage or cause actual injury to his forces if he continues into the mine field.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a mine ofthe above general character, which ,will Abe safe to handle under ordinary conditions, yet be reliable and highly efEcient when in use. A further ob ject is to provide a mine of the above general character, having relatively few parts which may be simply and inexpensively con structed. A further object is to provide a mine of the above character which may be easily and quickly set and which will float or drift indefinitely in armed condition, or sink after a predetermined time.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this' invention.

This invention accordingly Consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as more com` pletely outlined herein. To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features of the invention that they may embody the same into numerous modications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention and embraced within the scope of the appended claims, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings,

like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of such parts of a complete mine, in safety position, as are necessary to fully understand the present invention. Y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View showing the firing mechanism in firing position.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sectional views of the sinking valve.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, l denotes the upper part of the outer shell of a mine 0f the drifting type adapted to form an air chamber preferably of such capacity that the entire mine when placed overboard is of but slight negative buoyancy, and 2 denotes the lower part of the shell containing the explosive charge. These two sections are welded together and separated by a diaphragm 3.

The lower part'of the explosive chamber is provided with a base supporting the firing mechanism hereinafter described and contained within a chamber 5 concavely formed in the lower part of the mine casing.

The upper part of the mine is provided with a handling ring 6 threaded into a concave spider 7, whereby when not in use it may occupy a position, as shown, belolw the upper surface of the mine, thus permitting the mines to beconveniently stacked and stored. This ring besides being useful in handling and launching the mine is also adapted to be connected by means of a bridle (not shown) `with one or more other mines spaced apart therefrom.

The upper part of the firing mechanism chamber 5 is provided with a ring A8 into which is threaded a nipple 10 carrying a primer charge 1l, centrally disposed within which is a detonator 12 carried by the upper end of a tubular member 13, the lonver end of which is connected to and supported by a shield 14 bolted to a base plate 15, which in turn is carried by the ring 4. Between the base plate 15 and shield 14 is positioned a flexible diaphragm 16, engaging the under side or bottom of a longitudinal movable member 17. Threaded within this member 17 is a sleeve 18 carrying at its upper end a bushing 20 surrounding a firing pin stud 21, and carrying at its end a firing pin proper 22 adapted to engage the detonator 12.

' Withiny the sleeve18 isa coiledfiring' spring 23 engaging y21,and coiled about the outer surface'of the;

the end ofthe firing pin Vstud sleeve 18 `1s a .hydrostaticfpiston .spring '241 adapted to be compressed as the diaphragm 16 movesl upwardly intothe position shownA inFig.. 2,]fo'r thepurpose of preventing too,

: rapidfmovement thereof as Y merged, but more especially .to vholdrtheV dia# phragm down during shipment land to prevent shockiffthe'mine Ashould be dropped. f

. 1'In thelbaseplate 15'is'an opening or 'cav-a ity provided withra check valve such as ball v 25 normally v,elosedbygmeans of a cap 26. A

tube 2,7 leads fromthe chamber holding the ball 25 to the central part of the hydrostatic I sti'1d30l supports a cam plate 32- adapted to" ",member Y Vsupported upon a bracket- 364 chamber `28 phragmfl'fupward-lyr into the position shown in Fig. 2. Thismovement co'mpresses''the springs 23 and 2'4"whereby-the Vfiring .pin 21 Y willbedriven into contact with thedeton'ator*whenjreleased.V r. Y y. yAY stud 30'YprojectsoutwardlyY through'la slot 31 in carried-by ythesleev'e 18 when moved by upwardimovem'entfof thediaphragm 16. -This beygngagedr-byan adjusting screw 33, carf riedf by an .arm 34 of a'three arm trigger l projecting from the tube 13. vInjthe position nshown 1n Fig. 1,- the arm 34 of the trigger member'- 1s preventedy from moving toward the left'rbyreason of the adjusting screw 33 'engaging this' camplate 32, but

'Y when the earn-plate has beenV raised, as

; el *Salame actuated device.

shown in-Fig2, thenthe triggerl isvfree 4to moveabout its .-pivotal'ffsupport 37, as will hereinafter appear.. g This e bracket 36'; also -V carries' a vlever38 pivoted at `40intermedia-te itsfe'nds', oneend of lwhich is adapted to be engaged by the upper-arm 41 of the trigger ward'ly through the'slot 31111 the tube 13 to firing pin stud 21. A third-arm with the lower end of a yoke 39 extending downwardly fromV they bracket 36.

Y"Frein Ythe above it will be seen that after removing lthe ball check-valve cap Y26 vwater will enterthe'hydrostatic chamber and force *theY diaphragm 16 ,upwardlyA to compress the-springs ,'23 and 24,"thus releasing thek Y safety Vdevices32` associated with the trigger 35. rlher'eafterVr should 'a boat contact with the mine, the' 'delicately balanced tripping weight '.45 .will tend to' oscillate and suchf oscillations will release' the upper endaof'fthe "impact Yupn the mine is subl u wherebyV onremoval ofthe [capiv26.` lwater .f W1ll I enter through l,this "pipe .27 on submergence ofthe fmineY'an'd force the dial the side ofthe -tubev13`,.and is f' the lower end' of .tagger Tamilfrom,Y engagea as; as lever 38,

permitting the springV 23 tol force ftherngpn stud 21 strongly upwardly into the detonator 12, as shown in Fiera i s i Y In the base plate 15, thereris provided an opening at any convenient point adapted to receive ay sinking valve,

the mine toYV sink after it has remainedV 1n desired that* tlie' mine remain afloat gindeflnitely, theo'pen-ingis kept closed byany Y suitablel plug', but when theisinking of the mine is desired, the sinking -valve is inserted after removing this plug. Y

'This sinking valve comprlses atubilar' shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Y This'valve 1s;r forthe purpose of causing Y the water a Vpredeterminedtime. vIf it fis member 50 adapted to'be insertedor screwed into the opening, vand is provided with holes 51@ and a valvel '52 'normally' 4Closing the holes and heldfi'nclosed position bylme'ansof a bushing :'53 'of salV ammoniac, ore-other. suit@ able material adapted' t0 dissolve on corr` tact with the water. Afterthis' bushing is dissolved, the valve is raised by means yof i spring-'54af1i'd vpres'sure of the water to position shown in F-ig.- 4, therebyjallowing the water to, enter through holes'fl to the interior of the firing chamber 5, thereby-increasin'gthe slightnegative buoyancy of the Ymine vprovidedV for.l by regulating the size of the mine andV thev air Vchamber at' the top ef counterbalance'd bythe floatand Ycausing the mineto sink. Y

It is believed the method Vof use 'and oper- Y ation of vthe device herein set forthwill be clear. to those familiar Ywith the art from the above description; It may be stated, h'owever, that=th-em1nes are stored Vin sub- Y stantially the conditionshownY in Fig. 1, after having been filled' with TNT through an opening closed-by plug 48, 'and when it is desired to place the same in operation a suitable float is attached to the handling ring 6,*the cap 26 removed, and theV mine launched, either singly Y orfinl: pairs connected byV a bridle, asprevi'ouslyset forth.V As soon as l, the mine is launched, ,it sinksto the depth permitted by the float li'ne,'land the water entersthrough the check-'valve 25-flooding fthe'hydrosta'tlic chamber 28 and forcing the e diaphragm 16 upwardly VtoV the position shown in Fig.Y 2'; Thisupward movement of the diaphragm `carries with it the safety platei'32 therebyleaving the ytrigger 35 free to bereleased on oscillation of the tripping weight 45 caused by'contact o fa'boat with the mine. Y, `When vthe trigger is tripped, the spring 23, which is under cempressionV due Vto theexpansion of the hydrostatic chamber v2%.,Wil1l:force the firing` pinl 22 upwardly to explode/'the 'detonator, 12 and V'fire the charge contained within the Vcasing adjacent thereto.

lf itis desired that' the mine should sink after a predetermined time,`s'uchasa period Y and of one hour, as would be the case Where a pursued vessel Was sowing mines in the path of a pursuing fleet, at which time the pursuer would have passed; then the plug in the base plate 15 is removed and the sinking valve, shovvn in Figs. 3 and 4, inserted therein, which operates as above described.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a simple and practical mine of the drifting type, which will be reliable and efficient in use and operation, and adapted to accomplish, among others, all the objects advantages herein set forth. It Will also be apparent that by increasing the size of the buoyancy chamber the mine may be given positive buoyancy effect so that it Will not sink of itself and thus may be anchored indefinitely in a fixed place.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge `readily adapt it for the various applications Without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a submarine mine, in combination, a casing having an air chamber near one end and an explosive chamber near the other, one end of said chamber being concave and provided with firing means, said lring means including a hydrostatically tensioned firing pin, a multi-arm trigger mechanism therefor, a momentum actuated means connected with one arm of said trigger mechanism and adapted to release said mechanism, and a safety device associated with another arm for said trigger mechanism adapted to prevent actuation thereof until said hydrostatically actuated firing pin has been placed under tension.

In a submarine mine, in combination, a casing having au explosive chamber, said explosive chamber having a cavity adapted to ho-use a firing mechanism, means closing the cavity adapted to support the firing mechanism and forming therewith an expansible hydrostatic chamber, a firing pin, a spring adapted to be compressed on expansion of said hydrostatic chamber, a safety device releasable on compression of said spring', a pivoted trigger' for said firing pin directly associated with said safety device, and means adapted to release said trigger when the mine is engaged, said means comprising a weight flexibly connected at one end to said closing means and at its other end to said trigger.

3. In a submarine mine, in combination, a casing having an explosive chamber, said explosive chamber having a cavity adapted to house a firing mechanisn means closing the cavity adapted to support the firing mechanism and forming therewith an expansible hydrostatic chamber,'a ring pin, a spring adapted to be compressed on expansion of said hydrostatic chamber, a pivoted trigger for said firing pin, and means adapted to move said trigger about its axis to release said firing pin when the mine is engaged, said means comprising a weight flexibly supported` at either end, and means whereby the cavity in the explosive chamber may be filled after a predetermined time to cause the mine to sink.

l. In a submarine mine, in combination, a casing having an air chamber, and an explosive chamber, said explosive chamber having a cavity adapted to house a firing mechanism, a means closing the cavity adapted to support the firing mechanism and forming tl erewith an expansible hydrostatic chamber, a firing pin, a spring adapted to be compressed on expansion of said hydrostatic chamber, a safety device including a cam member and a coperating arm releasable on compression of said spring, a pivoted trigger for said firing pin directly connected with said safety device, and :neans adapted to release said trigger when the mine is engaged, said means comprising a weight flexibly supported at either end, and means whereby one of said chambers may be filled after a predetermined time to cause the mine to sink, said means including a valve and a protector for` said valve adapted to dissolve and permit the valve to open. Y

5. In a submarine mine, in combination, a casing having an air chamber, an explosivecontaining chamber, and a firing mechanism chamber associated with the explosive chamber and containing the firing mechanism, said firing mechanism comprising a detonator, a firing pin, a spring adapted to be compressed by hydrostatic pressure to tension said'firing pin, a pivoted trigger for the firing pin and a momentum actuated body flexibly supported at its top and bottom, directly connected with said trigger adapted to rotate said trigger about its axis to release the firing pin when the mine is engaged.

6. In a submarine mine, in combination, a casing having an air chamber, and explosive-containing chamber, a firing mechanism chamber associate-d with the explosive chamber and containing a firing mechanism, said firing mechanism comprising a detonator, a firing pin adapted to coact therewith, a spring adapted to be compressed by hydrostatic pressure when the mine is submerged, a firing lever engaging the firing pin, a trigger normally supporting said lever to hold said firing pin in retracted position, and a V\Vveitht directly associated vvith- 'said Vtii, ;,i cr y adapted to be moved When the mine is engaged, ltoirelease said leverA detonator .byV theV expansion Vand explode thev of said spring. 'Inr a submarine' mine, inl combination, acasing having an airchamber at its upper part, van explosive-containing lovver part anda firing mechanismchamber vassociated with e theexplosive chamber and containing the iiring mechanism, said iring mechanism comprisingadetonator, a firing pin adapted to coact therewith", a .spring adapted to be compressed when the mine is submerged, a iringlever engaging the fir- Vin'gpin, a pivoted triggerV normally having sliding contact with said lever to support `lsaid firingV pin vinv retracted position, VaV .y VVWeight directly connected With said trigger adaptedto be moved AkWhen the mine is en-.f

' gagedV1 to Withdraw f said triggerwith said lever and explode the the sliding Contact odetonator. by the expansion of said spring, andj safety device directly associated vwith 'i one, of said parts adapted' to Y prevent actua tion oi said trigger until Vthe mine isvvsiibmerged. l Y Y l ,r *i

YSglnva submarine mine,-in combination, a l

' casing having an air chamber and an exploa yfiringmechanism sive-'containing chamber, chamber associated With the explosive chamber, said firing mechanism comprising a base, a tubular member, having a slot in one side,

Y 'supported by,V saidbase and provided With lmeans for forming a4v hydrostatic chamber between said base .and vsaid tubularv member, communi-cations between. said Y hydrostatic.

chamber and the exterior vof the mine Wherei by Water may lovv into said chamber when the mineV is submerged,'a firing pin Within vsaid-tubular member, a springpadapted to tension said firing pin on` the expansion of said hydrostatic chamber, a firing lever pass-.-

ing through said slot in said tubular member i and engaging Vsaid tiring pin, a pivoted trigger engaging'said-lever for normallyfmain- .A taining said firingv pin in retractedvposition, and 'momentum actuatedmeans directly con--v nested to said trigger for releasing the ring V.pivoted trigger, Asociated With said tubular member and-said y pinwvhen a mine is engaged.4

V9. In a submarine mine, in combination, a Vcasing having an explosiveecontainingi chamber and laV ring mechanism/associated i with' the4 explosive chamber, said firing mechanismjcomprising a -b'ase,fa tubular *member supported by saidV base and provided vvith means for forming a hydrostatic' Vchamber-between said tubular member'and base, said base 'plate having anopening adapted' tofpermitv Water to enter said hydroi static chamber, a Vremovable closure for said opening, a ring'pin carriedbysaid tubularY member, Va spring adapted to be compressed as VVWater enters said hydrostaticV chamber, a Y

Va safety4 device directly` asn until the hydrostatic Y leasevthe trigger after the mine chamber in its Y trigger' adapted to"prevent release thereof chamberA has been filled, and a momentum' actuated :member directly associated With said Vtriggeradapted to-re- .Y

has been submerged; Y 10. In a submarine miney-infcombination,

' a easing having an airchamber, an explosive chamber and la' ri'ng mechanism chamber, one of said chambers haviifig anY opening thereinfmeans closing said opening adapted toroperate after a predetermined time there` by to yallovvvvater to enter said' 'chamber and cause the mine to 'sink,vsaidrmeans comprising a tubular' member provided',vvith'afr side port, a movable valven operating Within said tubular'memberfor closing'said port When in depressedposition, soluble means exposed to the outsideV Water and adapted to Ybe disnormally inoperative andadapted. on elevation to unlock the firingmechanism.l

12.1nY a submarine mine, in. combination,

Y acasing having an air chamber, an explo'- sive containing chamber and a-firing mechanism' chamber, safety locked firing mechanism including aVY hydrostatic valve anda trigger member, movable means provided With a cam surface Vand actuated by said valve, said 'camfsurface'cooperating WithV said trigger member to'maintainthe sameV normally Vvlocked and'A :adapted .onu actuation to unlockfthe firing mechanism.

13. In a submarinejmine, in combination, a casing having'an air Vchambernear.oiieend andV 1an explosive chamber nearthe other, one Vend oi? saidY chamber being concave and provided Within suchconcavityvvith firing mechanism,.said firing mechanism including aliiydrostaticalb7 teillsoned ,rg Pin .and a Y ber comprising an arm'coperatin'g with the firing pin to normally maintain it in depressed position, a secondi arm for coperat-V ing.V With safety lockingV means, and a thirdarm for cooperating with trigger releasingV means. r

14. In a submarine-mine, incombination, a casing having' an Yair vchambenran explosive-containing chamber and a ring mechafnism chamber safety locked firing mechanisin including a hydrostatic.valve,.ra firing pin tensioned thereby, anda multi-arm trigger member, a cam plate, adapted'to-be ele-V Vmulti-armtrig'ger member, saidtrigger mem- Y vated by said valve, said trigger member comprising an arm 'coperating With the firing pin to normally hold it under tension, a second arm coperating with said cam plate to provide safety locln'ng means and released When said cam plate is elevated and a third arm for coperating With trigger releasing means.

15. In a submarine mine, in combination, a casing having` an air chamber, an eXplosive-containing chamber and a firing mechanism chamber, safety locked firing mechanism including a hydrostatic valve and an integral multi-arm trigger member, a cam plate adapted to be elevated by said valve to release the safety lock, a balanced tripping Weight, said trigger member comprising an arm coperating With the ring pin to normally hold it cocked, a second arm toy which said tripping Weight is pivoted, and a third arm coperating With said cam plate to provide safety locking means and released When said cam plate is elevated, whereby said Weight may be oscillated to release said rst named arm and permit the firing pin to be operated.

16. In a submarine mine, iiring means therefor, comprising, a hydrostatically tensioned firing pin, a firing lever associated therewith, a pivot'ed trigger member coacting With said firing lever for normally holding said ring pin in depressed position, an oscillating Weight directly connected to said trigger member at one end and flexibly supported at its other end, for releasing said firing pin.

Signed at Washington, D. C., this 28th day of August, 1917.

CHESTER T. MINKLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

